Tag: #RootsTech2019

RootsTech is truly listening to its fans and finding options for those who aren’t able to make it to the conference in person. This past week the brand new RootsTech Virtual Pass was announced! It provides access to 18 online recorded sessions from the conference, allowing you to watch from the comfort of your home. What could be better than learning something new…in your pajamas!

The RootsTech free live streaming sessions will also be available to those not headed to the conference. This includes the general sessions featuring keynote speakers such as Patricia Heaton, Saroo Brierley and Jake Shimabukuro. These sessions will be streamed live starting on Wednesday, February 27, at 9:30 a.m. MST from the RootsTech.org home page.

For those who have attended RootsTech before, we know that it is almost impossible to get to every event or session that you want to see. There are just so many great classes to learn from! That’s where the Virtual Pass comes in. You can add the pass to your existing registration and that way, add more content.

The Virtual Pass, and the free live streamed sessions are a win-win for those unable to attend RootsTech in person, and for those attending but who would like access to more content.

Quick tip: Did you know that you can access the recorded content from past RootsTech conferences (2015-2018)? What a great way to get a taste of RootsTech for those attending for the first time in 2019! Or just to relive what have been some truly memorable sessions and classes!

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With the new year just around the corner, RootsTech 2019 is inching closer and closer! So, what has been happening behind the scenes at RootsTech? A lot! Wonderful keynote speakers have been announced, there’s a RootsTech film competition, and just last week, the streaming schedule was revealed. Let’s take a closer look at some of these big happenings.

Keynote Speakers

Who doesn’t love funny lady Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle? Patricia Heaton will be the keynote speaker on Thursday, February 28. I’m looking forward to laughing and learning from her! Check out the 3 interesting things about Patricia Heaton that you may not have known.

Have you read Saroo Brierley’s autobiography, A Long Way Home? Maybe you’ve seen the film, Lion, based on the book? Both are excellent, depicting the courage and determination of this young man, Saroo Brierley, in connecting with his birth family in India, after losing contact with them at age five. Saroo Brierley will be on the main stage on Friday, March 1 at 11:00am. Don’t miss it!

I had not heard of Jake Shimabukuro until RootsTech made the announcement that he would be a keynote speaker on Saturday, March 2. I had to go and find out more. YouTube came through with some music videos of Jake playing his ukulele. After hearing him play Bohemian Rhapsody, I am a fan!

From the RootsTech Blog

The Expo Hall is one of my favorite parts of RootsTech. The energy is electric with hundreds of vendors and thousands of attendees all talking genealogy! Thanks to the RootsTech blog I’ve now learned about some vendors that I will definitely be making time to visit. Read about 10 Exhibitors You Won’t Want to Miss at RootsTech 2019.

Are you new to RootsTech? Or someone looking to brush up on the basics? RootsTech 2019 has something for everyone. The RootsTech blog takes a look at what is available for beginner’s here.

The RootsTech Film Fest

Submit your entry and tell how you connect and belong and you could win a trip to your ancestral homeland. What a dream that would be! You don’t have to be a professional, there’s a category for everyone. Deadline is January 30, 2019. More information can be found here.

Free Live Stream Schedule

I know there are some folks who aren’t able to make it to RootsTech 2019. Here is the next best thing. A live streaming schedule that you can watch in the comfort of your home, with your pjs on if you like! Those three incredible keynote speakers I mentioned? Their keynote addresses will be live streamed. Also being live streamed are classes by well-known genealogy experts such as Rebecca Whitford Koford, Diahan Southard, Kenyatta Berry, Amy Johnson Crow, Blaine Bettinger and many more.

If you’ve decided that it’s just too good to miss and you’re ready to give up your pjs and join us in Salt Lake City, on 27 February 2019, then take advantage of promotional pricing ($209) and register before January 25, 2019.

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RootsTech registration opens tomorrow, on 20 September 2018, and a tentative schedule has just gone up. It’s subject to change but take a look and see the incredible variety of classes that will be offered!

2019 will be my 5th year attending RootsTech and my first year as a RootsTech Ambassador. I’m excited to see what’s in store. A few weeks ago, RootsTech announced that they would be expanding to London in 2019! What an incredible opportunity for those who live in the UK and Europe to experience RootsTech for themselves. You can find more information here.

Have you attended RootsTech? Thinking about going in 2019? Here are my Top 5 reasons to attend RootsTech:

1. Making connections. RootsTech 2019’s theme is “Connect. Belong.” There is nothing more exhilarating than being in a place with thousands of other people who share your passion for genealogy, and feeling like you are where you belong. But even more than that, RootsTech brings together family and friends…those you know, and those you discover. For the last three years, RootsTech has been the meeting place for myself and my good friend, Kandace. We met about 18 years ago in Colorado as new moms with baby boys. Our families grew and we moved to different states but stayed in touch. In 2016, I invited Kandace to attend RootsTech with me and a tradition was born. Every year since we have met in Salt Lake City to attend RootsTech together. Connecting is what RootsTech does so well.

2. With over 300 classes to pick from, you will find one that suits you perfectly. From beginners to those who are advanced researchers, RootsTech offers a great variety of classes. Challenge yourself to learn something new.

3. The Expo Hall. Hundreds of vendors, offering just about everything you can think of to do with genealogy. Be sure to allow yourself a good chunk of time to visit the Expo Hall. There is so much to see, so many vendors to talk to, presentations to attend and swag to collect. It’s one of my favorite things about RootsTech!

4. Keynote Speakers. Be inspired by interesting and engaging keynote speakers. Two of my favorite speakers from 2018 were Scott Hamilton and Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. I look forward to hearing who the speakers will be for 2019!

5. Proximity to the Family History Library. RootsTech takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center, only a block from the Family History Library. Spend some quality research time here among the thousands of records and books. Each year I fly into Salt Lake City a day or two before RootsTech starts so that I can work in the Library.

I hope you’ll join me at RootsTech 2019! Registration for RootsTech 2019 opens tomorrow, 20 September 2018. Register early to take advantage of early bird pricing! Look out for the free RootsTech pass I’ll be giving away on my blog.

And for more information on everything RootsTech, check out the Road to RootsTech 2019 here.